Outfit created from genuine 1940’s patterns.
Feeling pretty badass, if I say so myself.
I love the fashions, make up and hairstyles of the British 1940’s. I’m obsessed with it all, but I’m particularly interested in what real everyday folk wore day-to-day.
When my gran was still alive, the way she dressed hadn’t really changed in decades. She wore a cardigan, a top, a knee-length skirt, tights and shoes with a slight heel. The photos I have of her as a young woman show she’s wearing the same. It wasn’t until she was at the end of her life when dressing herself became a problem, that she discovered trousers, or ‘slacks’ as she called them. She marvelled at how comfortable they were and sad she hadn’t taken the plunge sooner.
When she was still able to, she curled her hair most nights, but I never ever saw her wear makeup. She didn’t need it.
I don’t know why I have this fascination with WWII style ‘slacks’. Maybe it was reignited with the new version of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, and when I saw the kind of trousers Helen and her sister were wearing, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I made my own pair.
At the same time, I decided to make a top to complement the trousers as I didn’t have anything suitable.
I spent some time on Etsy and found two genuine 1940’s patterns from the time.
The trouser pattern was 4803 Misses’ Slacks, a reproduction from the original. The top pattern was Weldon’s So-Easy Pattern No.90.
The top was especially intriguing to me. It was designed to be quick, easy and economical to sew. If you’re in the middle of a war, you don’t have time (or fabric) to waste with complicated patterns.
Cricket trousers anyone? The mockup was perfect.
The trouser pattern a dream to sew. I made a mockup first just to be on the safe side. It was perfect. I’ve never made trousers before, and the side zipper made it much easier than it might have been. I used a beautiful navy wool suiting fabric with a hint of a pinstripe. Lovely fabric, but it was pretty hellish to sew with as it frayed easily and was extremely slinky. But the trousers turned out AMAZING, just what I wanted. I’m definitely going to make up more pairs from different fabrics. The lowered boxy crotch does take some getting used to, but I love how the pleats and darts mould the waist. They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable trousers I own.
When I made the top, I forgot to take into account my long body and should have added on about 6 inches to the bottom. The finished version only comes an inch below the waistline of my trousers, and that makes me feel like it’s going to ride way up my back every time I bend over. I could add a peplum in future.
The top didn’t feel very comfortable when I was making it up, but it magically became really comfy when I added the sleeves.
The pattern asked to make a rouleaux…a kind of rolled up drawstring thingy for the neck and sleeves, but that was more than I was willing to do, so instead I added a thin navy ribbon which matched the gingham fabric I used. For the sleeves I just used thin elastic. I did french seams for all of the top but that was a mistake when it came to the sleeves. It was just an added layer of work when only once would have done. I omitted the sleeve support and felt the sleeves sat nice and puffy anyway…maybe thanks to the french seams.
Both patterns were interesting to sew. They assume you already know how to sew, so a lot of the instructions were missing. I just had to trust I was doing it right.
Sewing the legs of the trousers together was…an experience! At one point I thought I had done it wrong as it looked so odd, but thankfully it came together in the end. I omitted the belt loops as this fabric was a bit dressier, but I have a nice chino fabric that I want to try with this pattern and I’ll do the belt loops then.
I was so happy with the way this outfit came out. It was exactly as I hoped. I’m not sure if I’d make the top up again, but I’ll definitely do the trousers.
